Pray for Discernment

“So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’” 1 Kings 3:9 NIV

In a story published by Click2Houston earlier this week that’s becoming all too common, it was reported that a 32-year-old woman was out for a morning run in her Houston Heights neighborhood Monday when a man in a white van approached her from behind and grabbed her shirt. She says the man was attempting to pull her closer to him, but she was able to get away. The incident happened in broad daylight, around 9:15 a.m. on Monday. The woman immediately filed a report with the Houston Police Department. “It’s sad, because normally I don’t really hear about a lot of things happening on that side of town and in broad daylight,” said Dalia Harris who was out for a walk. The writer went on to list several safety suggestions including: Trust your intuition: If something doesn’t feel right, you may be in danger. Avoid a person or area if it feels unsafe.

And you know, when it comes to intuition or the ability to understand something immediately without the need for conscious reasoning, Solomon was wise to ask for a “discerning heart… to distinguish between right and wrong” when God offered to give him whatever he asked for. Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us that give us this priceless knowledge as well, knowledge that’s both in the heart and in the head—protecting us, teaching us, and guiding us through the pages of the Bible and through the promptings of the Holy Spirit. 

So the next time you feel led to go this way or that, or to avoid a person or a situation, take heed my friend.  Earnestly pray for discernment as you wait for the Holy Spirit to reveal your next step. This is the only way to avoid danger and remain on the right path. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the discernment You provide through Your Word, through prayer, and through the Holy Spirit. Help us to seek You and to listen for Your voice at all times so that we would be able to distinguish right from wrong. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!